The college experience exposes incoming students to many distractions, ranging from the cost of financing their education to the challenges that come with carving out an adult identity. Living away from home for the first time also forces students to confront issues that pose numerous distractions to academic achievements, including conflicts with roommates and ever-changing, often uncertain ground rules for developing positive personal and sexual relationships.

Environmental

Residence hall environments offer the first taste of life without boundaries. However, those factors also leave students vulnerable to numerous distractions, such as loud parties and disruptive behavior, that make studying difficult. Lack of privacy is also an issue, since it's not unusual for two or three people to share a bedroom in most dorms, California State University's "Daily Sundial" reports. This enforced intimacy often spurs conflicts between roommates who don't share similar schedules or lifestyles.

Financial

The stress of financing a college education, for many students, poses a constant distraction that often undermines academic performance. For example, one-third of participants surveyed by Inceptia, a division of the National Student Loan Program, felt that financial stressors had exerted a negative effect on their academic progress. Financial issues also accounted for four of the top five stressors in students' lives, according to the survey. These stressors included the challenge of repaying loans, followed by the cost of getting an education, ability to borrow money and the need to find a job after school.

Medical

One of the most harmful distractions that students experience is the phenomenon of binge drinking, or consuming four or more drinks within a two-hour period, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest. Cheap alcohol and easy availability are the hallmarks of a binge drinking culture, which can negatively affect every aspect of a student's life. As the center's summary indicates, students who become intoxicated before age 19 are more likely to become frequent heavy drinkers.

Sexual

College marks the transition to new relationships that range from casual dating to friendships based on common interests, and the student's first real experience with sexual intimacy, according to the "Morrisville State College Chimes." At the same time, however, these initial experiences seem confusing and overwhelming, since previous rules of courtship no longer seem to apply. Students interviewed for the newspaper agreed that this emotional landscape can be distracting and difficult to navigate, particularly for those who place a premium on emotional commitment.

Technological

The presence of laptop computers, smartphones and text messaging devices on campuses nationwide often leaves professors feeling that they're competing for students' time and attention. Wireless Internet technology exposes students to many online distractions, whether it's playing games, surfing websites or viewing videos. Instructors like Georgetown Law professor David Cole have responded by banning laptops from classrooms, "The Washington Post" reported in March 2010. In doing so, Cole argued that the ban was necessary to keep students engaged in learning his material.

About the Author

Ralph Heibutzki's articles have appeared in the "All Music Guide," "Goldmine," "Guitar Player" and "Vintage Guitar." He is also the author of "Unfinished Business: The Life & Times Of Danny Gatton," and holds a journalism degree from Michigan State University.